shanmonster | Presents of Mind

Christmas was a time I dreaded. So was Hallowe'en and St. Valentine's Day. Other holidays weren't so bad, because they generally didn't involve gift and card exchanges.

After Christmas, the kids at school would ask me what loot I got, and I'd always say, "Nothing." After all, Christmas was "against my religion." And I always said that, too. I never said it was against my beliefs--always that it was against my religion.

Sometimes, kids told me that they'd give me Christmas presents, but when they found out I wasn't allowed to give them anything in return, they'd change their minds.

At Valentine's, kids would give me little cards, and then act hurt when I didn't reciprocate. I wasn't allowed to give out Valentine cards. It was against my religion. So was eating the heart-shaped cookies and candies brought in by the teacher. I'd go and sit at the back of the class during the parties and eat my molasses sandwich and pretend I didn't care that I was being left out.

Hallowe'en was more of the same.

So I made up my own holidays. Instead of giving presents (I had no money for that), I'd cook up feasts for my animals. Dogfood soup was a great favourite of my geese, dogs, cats, and chickens. They'd gather around impatiently, waiting for their tasty repast.

And I'd write lots and lots of letters to my enormous collection of penpals. In my way, I was blogging before there was such a thing. My letters were the equivalent of my daily posts, filled with thoughts and ephemera. I may not have been popular at school, but I was a big hit with people who'd never met me. Heh....

I celebrate Christmas now. Not because of religious beliefs, but because I just plain like giving and receiving presents. I loved seeing the look on my little niece's face when she realized what the whoopee cushion could do. And I like opening a gift and finding an excellent book or CD. I like the process of finding just the right thing to make someone smile.

And I like candy and dressing up, so Hallowe'en is as good an excuse as any to give in to my urges.

Not that it stops me any other time....